Hollywood Dolls

IAMX - I Am Terrified

Tu m'as condamné à une vie d'esclave.

Here is one of the new Cissy dolls from the 2010 Madame Alexander line. What is up with the terrifying-looking dolls this year? Is it a reaction to the economy and the weather or what? The gown is gorgeous. The stockings and shoes are to-die-for. But the face and the hair. OMG. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.
The names of three of them are laden with emotional overtones. Lust is one and sorry I don't remember the others but I will fill in the blanks later today.
From what I've been reading on the internet, the reaction to these dolls is very bad. It's another "What Were They Thinking?" event.

Thanks to Jenn for referring these to me. They're from Angelic Dreamz -- one of the best places to get your dolls.

Did Mammy drop her jaw?
Is Scarlett finally going to wear it?

You the collectors be the judge.

It was a photo that would have made Mammy jiggle with laughter and made her Scarlett, pout with dismay. After the long wait and anticipation that fueled forums and collector's groups, the lamb probably made a poor choice, and Mammy would probably have her way in making Scarlett wear another dress so as not to "sho her bosom befoh three o' clock da afternoon". 

Tonner's "What's my lamb gonna wear" elicited nothing but sheer disappointment; collectors emailing words like lions tearing the concept with words that validly critiqued the PR photo. I can actually feel my adrenaline rushing down, down, down.
The color of the prints were too light and not aligned with the color of the sash.
The hairstyle of the PR photo was said to be a bad perm day. Reminded me of those 80's gel-filled hair (Desperately seeking Susan, is that you?) But that's fix-able.
The number of prints were so not what you see on film.
Sadly, I could almost hear the guffaws of laughter from Franklin Mint Scarlett loyalists. There are some.

As I mentioned to one member: a film as great and impactful as Gone with the Wind must be interpreted faithfully, as all great films should be, in merchandise. The barbeque dress is unmistakably Scarlett. Worn in 2 sequences, and 6 scenes in GWTW, why the miss?  Somehow, it is in these dresses, and in the likeness of the doll that a legend perpetuates even 70 years later. Could there have been a copyright with the prints that did not allow Tonner to fully copy them? If you can't make a faithful copy, then be good at making your own interpretation is my answer. Franklin Mint has its own version of the 12 Oaks Dress. It's safer. You don't get compared to, but seen as an interpretation of.  Case in point, Tonner's version of Melanie. There was no room there to compare because it was a beautiful interpretation capturing the mood that Mitchell created. And so, Tonner's Melanie/Ms. Mellie survives by its own merits  and does not suffer because of its failure to live up to the merits of an original. If customer satisfaction is the goal of any manufacturer in the world, why are we consoling ourselves? If one were to blame them of anything at all, perhaps it would be the lack of substantial awareness -- ahh despite the resources from which awareness can be obtained.  However, as collectors we tend to forgive, and forget.

Still, because of its reputation of making changes, the GWTW doll customer is hoping that it's just a prototype, it may change (remember how they suddenly switched Scarlett molds?) The Press Release photo is really an AP = Audience Release photo. Oh the Press wouldn't care perhaps, but the collectors  really give a damn! A company as big as FM or Tonner has the power to listen, to survey, to research. So why didn't they? This is the most perplexing point of the entire 2010 Tonner Scarlett reveal!

But like Scarlett, we hold on to our hopes. That the dress may actually be better, that there might be a better release. Why do collectors have to act so silly just to catch a new dress? Well after all, tomorrow is still another dress. Or am I just consoling myself?

I let this image sink in for two days before I wrote this post. When I first received the email containing the pictures of this new Avant Guard doll, Hot Trot, I thought of the Inferno Vita doll with her fire orange streaked hair and black eyes. The more I looked at this doll, the worse she gets. I've said it before, these dolls have ugly knees. The shape of this gown accentuates her knees. It's just awful. I might like it better if the hem were the length of the front of the gown and even all around. It's an awkward, unbalanced design and it's not pretty. What happened to pretty? What's going on with the ties on the shoes? What is hidden behind the front leg?The other 2010 Avant Guard doll is called On Edge. She has the Goldmine sculpt which I like better than the closed mouth. I like the short black wig and I think she is very pretty. The feather cape is ... well I can't find the words. The bust of the dress looks like it doesn't fit properly but that could be the photo. The shoes are the same ones that came in the accessory set from last month! So it's just another AG with bright blue eyeshadow and red lips. I like the gloves if that makes a difference.
These dolls could have been called Feathers, Over and Under. Whatever. I will probably put my money somewhere else.
Both: Retail Price $220. Edition size 400.

There's nothing new here, no unique design or hair style. She's little Miss Mary Tyler Moore.
Each color will be available in a quantity of 100 as follows:
Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears-Blonde/lavender: The Doll Peddlar-Brunette/pink:and My Favourite Doll-Redhead/turquoise:
Price for each doll in Integrity's Forget Me Not collection is $80.

What happened? Did someone let the air out of the PP balloon? Did someone get bored?

...would Mattel charge $150 for a doll like December Turquoise?

I've always believed that Gone with the Wind presented -- perhaps not intentionally by its author, the spirit of the South as iconized by its 4 principal characters.
If Scarlett was the South's clenched fist raised against the destructions of war ("I shall rise again!), the other spirit is that of honor, grace and silent fortitude. A spirit best emulated by Miss Melanie Hamilton Wilkes.  She would be Scarlett's one true friend who Scarlett sets aside and remains oblivious to, in face of her one true love -- that is, until the end.


Here is Tonner's Miss Melly Hamilton, 2nd in the Melanie Wilkes dolls -- and the way I see it, the best of Tonner's GWTW creations. She wears a nice pale blue (is it organza?) gown that truly complements her peaceful, serene nature. It is a gown/dress worn during the first encounter with her husband's seductress. An encounter that establishes the contrasting natures of these two characters: Scarlett's low neckline dress vs. Melanie's all-covered up sweet ensemble. Of all the Tonner dolls of Gone with the Wind, I believe this one captures the character's mood and tone. The mold is absolutely exquisite: executed with soft features and painted delicately with brown eyes and rose-red lips (something that the actress  never wore and who insisted that she wear less makeup to be more in period). The doll's hairstyle is truly Victorian in design. While I am not  well-versed on how these hairstyle is done done, I really think that Olivia de Havilland had rolls under her hair to create that puffed up look on the sides.

Miss Melly comes with a very rough tulle that spreads her dress edged with 3 layers of ruffles. Her pink sash is pleated and accented with 2 long sashes on the side. The doll's bonnet is also a charmer; also accented with the pale pink sash color, with a ready ribbon on which hooks are attached to hold keep the ribbon intact (saves the doll collector the tiring task of making the perfect ribbon). The pink sash sash on the skirt and the ribbon on the bonnet have white satin that outlines its shape. Miss Melly Hamilton comes with pale blue pumps, without a buckle similar to the 1st Tonner Melanie (which I think was really more in period).



It is hard to think that this doll requires anymore repainting as she is beautiful as she is. However, I am still finding time to finally venture into painting an Olivia as Melanie. After doing so many Scarletts, it's hard to get a paradigm shift -- spoiled Southern belle to graceful one.
The doll has many possibilities too aside from being a Melanie, since it isn't done in the likeness of the actress. One could do a Jane Eyre, or a young Queen Victoria with it -- and if you do repaints professionally, the shape of the face could make her a Jackie O -- with the right hairstyle of course. But that is taking the spirit out of this nice Civil War masterpiece.

I've been searching the internet during free time to see possible Scarlett dresses. I was looking particularly for this costume for Little Women (1991?) designed by Academy award winner for Costume Design, Colleen Atwood. Materials were gathered from vintage shops. This scene where an adult Amy March is in Paris, shows an elegant and soft day dress which I think would go well with the dolls. Notice the embroidery and the veiled hat which hides her face. The paper parasol is also a nice touch to this costume. Notice too the little combs on the side of the hair and the elaborate hairstyle given to the doll.  It is hard to find the time for detail though. Above, the pink day dress in the parlor is also soft and rich. I surmise this is some kind of China silk. Wish this could be done. But still waiting for the Tonner GWTW  2010 release on the 29th. There still is nothing like having your own OOAK.  And I think these dresses would make an idyllic Victorian portrait.

I became a big fan of the designer Edith Head years ago while researching fashions for my dolls. I bought the DVD "To Catch a Thief" and one of its extra features was "Edith Head and the Paramount Years". There were several short clips from the fashion show in the film "Lucy Gallant". It became my mission in life to get my hands on that movie. Unfortunately, "Lucy Gallant" has never been released on video or DVD. After many months of searching, I was able to buy a copy of the film on DVD. I was so excited! The story in the movie is OK, but the fashions are wonderful. Not long after that, there was a convention for Gene based on that film. I didn't get to go to the convention, but I recognized the fashions from the convention immediately. I was bummed that I had been beaten to the punch again (It happens to me all the time).

One of my favorite fashions from the movie, besides the red and white gown and coat, was a red suit and coat ensemble in the fashion show at the end of the movie. I have been planning on making this outfit for years and I finally did it.

The suit and sleeveless coat are made of wool. I love the fur trim around the armholes. The biggest challenge was finding the fur for the outfit. In the movie, Edith Head describes the fur as sealskin, I knew I need to find the flattest fur I could, to have the same effect.



The real coat was completely lined in fur. I tried that in my little doll coat and I felt it was too bulky. I decided to only use the fur on the collar, armholes and down the front of the coat. It would have been great if I could have made it like the real coat, because then it would have been reversible. The fur around the armholes is a little thicker than I originally wanted it to be, but there was a bulk issue again. I am still pleased with the results.



My new "It's a Cinch" makes a wonderful model. I love her!

I even made faux umbrellas out of wooden shish kebab skewers, beads, fabric, interfacing, glue, ribbon, and a black sharpy pen.